Best of Taoism – Being broken to be whole

In order to be whole, you must first be broken. In order to be straight, you must be twisted. In order to be full, you must be empty. In order to be renewed, you must first be worn out. In order to gain much, you must have little. In order to understand, you must be confused.

Wise people understand the unity of all things, and know that unity consists in diversity.

In order to be well known, you must never pursue fame. In order to be above suspicion, you must never justify yourself. In order to be honoured, you must never seek praise. In order to win, you must never compete.

Wise people in the past frequently said, “In order to be whole, you must be broken.” Were they mistaken? It is certainly true that those who are broken, are most likely to flourish.

Moral: Seemingly opposites are two sides of the same coin. Both are fully related to each other and provide a way achieve one another. They are like two branches of the same tree.